How Can We Help?

Sunday,January 25, 2004

Sally Taylor

 

 

Opening Words/ Chalice Lighting:

We light our flaming chalice
To illuminate the world we seek.
In the search for truth, may we be just;
In the search for justice, may we be loving;
And, in loving, may we find peace.

from Elizabeth McMaster, 1997 UUMA Worship Materials Collection

 

Check-in: What has been going on for you since we last met? How are you right now?

 

Readings:

 

People say, what is the sense of our small effort?

They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time.

A pebble cast into a pond causes ripples that spread in all directions.

Each one of our thoughts, words and deeds is like that.

No one has the right to sit down and feel hopeless.

There is too much work to do.

                                    Dorothy Day

 

#580 The Task of the Religious Community

The central task of the religious community is to unveil the bonds that bind each to all.  There is a connectedness, a relationship discovered amid the particulars of our own lives and the lives of others.  Once felt, it inspires us to act for justice.

It is the church that assures us that we are not struggling for justice on our own, but as members of a larger community.  The religious community is essential, for alone our vision is too narrow to see all that must be seen, and our strength too limited to do all that must be done.  Together, our vision widens and our strength is renewed.

                 Mark Morrison-Reed

Questions:

1. Describe a time when your help made a positive difference in a situation. How did it make you feel?
2. What social action activities are you or have you been involved in? Why did you choose these?
3. Describe a time when you felt that your “help” was not welcome. How did that make you feel?
4. Describe a time when you knew that your “help” was doing more harm than good.
5. What social action activities would you like to become involved in? What is stopping you?

 

Check-out:  Likes and Wishes

What social action project should this group do together?

 

Closing Words:

I am only one

But still I am one.

I cannot do everything,

But still I can do something.

And because I cannot do everything

I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

                             Edward Everett Hale

Go in Peace.

 

 

A Reminder of what we covenanted:

Group Expectations

1. attend regularly
2. notify a member of the group if you must miss a session
3. arrive on time, close on time
4. be clear with each other about the quality of each member’s participation
5. participate in group decisions concerning format, shared meal, discussion topics, service activities
6. participate in service activities planned by the group

 Rules Review

-          Respect the Talking Stick-one person speaking at a time, no interruptions, comments, questions etc. during check-in and first round of sharing on topic

-          Make I statements whenever possible

-          Use Active Listening

-          Respect confidentiality of shared information 

-          Avoid giving advice

o        May ask clarifying questions during second round

o        Speaker may ask for advice which will be shared later

-          Share time so everyone who wishes to may speak

-          Anyone may pass at any time

-          Encourage holding silences